Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Chapter 5 - Unease
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Before nightfall,
I decided to bring Jenny into the cave and examine her wounds.
Having recognized my face and scent, Jenny reverted to her earlier, more docile behavior, whimpering and nuzzling against me despite her injuries.
“Whine… whimper…”
“Does it hurt?”
Her wounds looked recent, some still bleeding, suggesting she had been fighting until recently.
But there was no need to disinfect them.
Jenny’s body was already healing rapidly, her immune system working overtime.
“It’s okay. You’ll be fine. You’re strong, you can handle this.”
Yet, I couldn't help but worry about her…
Perhaps,
Because her eyes reminded me of Dan’s.
It was strange. Logically, I should have felt disgust towards her, a creature born from devouring Dan from the inside out.
“…Can you stop licking me? Why does she keep licking me? She’s not a puppy.”
Perhaps she saw me as a parental figure. I couldn't bring myself to reject this creature, who, with her human-like face, seemed to have imprinted on me.
But that wasn't the only reason I cared for her.
To survive on this planet, I needed allies. Having already earned the ire of the spiders, the mermaids, and even the moon, I desperately needed someone on my side.
If Alraune and Jenny could become my allies, perhaps I could survive.
I needed to establish friendly relationships with the creatures here. I didn't know when, or if, I would ever escape…
…And, well,
Jenny’s eyes really did resemble Dan’s.
She was growing into a beautiful young woman, just like Dan would have wanted.
I almost wished I could show him.
But he would probably be angry.
She was the one who had killed him.
“…Doctor, are you considering taking her with us?”
Amy, surprisingly, was the first to voice her disapproval.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like her?”
I always valued Amy's rational judgment. AIs could often identify problems that humans overlooked.
“…”
But this time was different.
Amy seemed hesitant, her gaze fixed on Jenny as I petted and held her.
She didn’t explain her objections.
“It’s nothing. I believe I experienced a momentary processing error.”
“Hmm…? Oh, okay.”
Her response was unusual for an AI.
It seemed she too,
Stranded on this planet with me, was changing.
***
“Juho- Juhooo-”
Scratch- scrape-
The creatures returned, as they always did.
When night fell, and the moon rose,
The grotesque flesh-lumps came for me.
“Screeech-”
But there was one difference.
Jenny, from behind the entrance, roared at them, her voice filled with menace.
Strangely, after a few of these displays, the creatures would retreat.
Then, after a few minutes, they would return, cautiously approaching the entrance. But the plants Alraune and I had placed there created a formidable barrier.
“Amy, see? Taking Jenny with us was a good idea.”
“Yes.”
Thanks to her, I could finally sleep.
I was incredibly grateful for Jenny.
“Jenny, good girl! Want another chocolate bar?”
“Kyaooo-”
Jenny wagged her tail excitedly, as if understanding my praise.
She even lowered her head, nudging me, asking for more head scratches.
I obliged, petting her like a well-trained dog, and offered her another chocolate bar. She loved the sweet treat.
“After you chase them away, let’s sleep together. Okay?”
“Kyaa-”
Perhaps it was karma.
If I had killed Jenny, believing her to be a harbinger of misfortune, I wouldn't have received her help.
The world was full of irony.
Unexpected events could be both beneficial and disastrous.
Only fate knew the outcome.
I simply did my best to survive each day,
Making choices as my conscience dictated.
***
“Mmm…”
I had slept soundly for the first time in a while.
With Jenny keeping the flesh-lumps at bay, I could finally rest.
“Gyaooo… mmm…”
Of course, sleeping with Jenny wasn't without its challenges.
Even though she felt like a friend’s daughter, she was undeniably female.
It had been easier when she was smaller, more childlike.
But Jenny was growing rapidly, her body maturing. She was taller and heavier now, her breasts and hips more pronounced.
“Jenny, time to wake up.”
“Mmm… whine…”
But her behavior was still very puppy-like. I wasn't sure if she was being affectionate, seeing me as a parental figure, or if her mental development was simply lagging behind her physical growth.
Perhaps it was my duty to educate her. We couldn't live like this forever.
“Okay, let’s search for more supplies today, and if we have time, I’ll teach you a few things.”
“Yes.”
It wasn't a difficult task. Teaching and learning were second nature to me.
It was certainly preferable to fighting for my life on this planet.
And, if I was being honest,
I had another, slightly selfish motive.
If I could properly educate and raise Jenny,
Perhaps she could protect me from the other females, from the spiders and the mermaids.
I didn't know what she would become,
How powerful she would grow.
But one thing was certain:
Even in her current, smaller form, she was strong enough to intimidate the flesh-lumps.
“…”
Wait.
Something didn't add up.
There was a missing link…
“Amy, something’s strange.”
“Yes?”
The flesh-lumps were afraid of Jenny.
Jenny had injuries inflicted by the flesh-lumps?
“What is it? Jenny, wait a moment.”
“Kyaa?”
Jenny tilted her head, pausing her movements.
Amy and I examined her wounds closely. They were definitely inflicted by the flesh-lumps.
The pattern of injuries was similar to the ones Dan had sustained. Jenny had clearly been attacked by them.
But why were they afraid of her?
Why did they retreat at the sound of her roars?
“Alraune, can you hear me?”
Unable to solve this mystery on our own,
I tried to communicate with Alraune, a native of this planet.
But she seemed to be in a deep sleep, exhausted from producing so many plants. She didn't respond to my calls.
She had overexerted herself, protecting the cave entrance.
While my nutrient intake was important for her plant growth, Alraune’s own strength was also a crucial factor.
She had pushed herself to the limit these past few days, fulfilling my requests. She needed to rest.
I didn't know when she would wake up.
And even though she was asleep, her roots, embedded within my body, were still active.
My wounds healed quickly,
And my physical abilities were enhanced.
“Okay, let’s focus on today’s tasks.”
I set aside the mystery,
And left the cave with Amy and Jenny.
“Alright, Jenny. I have another mission for you. Do you remember where we first met?”
Communicating with Jenny was difficult, since she hadn't learned to speak yet,
But if finding the rifle proved too challenging, we could try something else.
“…Can you smell this?”
“Doctor…”
I held Amy’s head close to Jenny’s face. If Jenny could lead us to the mermaids’ lake, where Amy’s body was, we could use Amy’s internal coordinates to locate the rifle.
“Doctor, this creature is exhibiting aggressive behavior towards me. Please remove it immediately.”
“She’s not being aggressive. She’s just smelling you.”
Jenny sniffed Amy, her expression unreadable, then,
Chomp-
“Hey! Jenny, no!”
She bit down on Amy’s ear and started chewing.
“Let go! Now!”
She seemed to dislike Amy intensely.
I didn't understand their animosity. Amy had also shown a strange aversion towards Jenny…
“Doctor-”
“Grrrr- chomp-”
“Stop it! Do you want to be punished? Stop!”
Well, still.
This was better than being alone.
I felt a glimmer of hope.
I wanted this chaotic, noisy companionship to last.
My world was slowly expanding,
Populated by creatures who, at least to some extent, were on my side.
Slowly…
“Whine! Whimper…!”
“…Jenny? What’s wrong?”
It would have been perfect if Jenny hadn’t been so reluctant to return to the lake.
“Whine- whimper-”
As soon as she understood what I wanted, she grabbed my pants and started pulling me away, dragging me across the ground.
“Calm down. What’s wrong? Hmm?”
She seemed terrified.
“Whimper- whine…”
Was it because of the nine unidentified creatures we had encountered near the lake?
Or was it something related to her injuries?
…Or perhaps,
Both?